Hydrotherapy-Warming Towel

Hydrotherapy and Nature for the win!

Naturopathic Doctors have been using hydrotherapy for almost 200 years to help people heal from acute conditions like cold and flu to chronic illnesses like Toxic Mold Illness, Lyme Disease, Autoimmune conditions like Lupus and RA, and lots or other conditions.

The key to using hydrotherapy effectively is knowing the overall health of the patient so as not to injure them further.

For example, Cold plunging has become all the rage in the US from social media influencers. But I have had plenty of female patients say that they feel worse after doing a few of them. Don't even get me started on people with chronic health conditions. When you shock the body like that it can actually make things worse if you are already sick or disrupt hormone function by raising cortisol. This is one of the bigger issues for women ,especially perimenopausal women.

The therapy I will describe below is one that almost EVERYONE can do at home. The hardest part is getting my patients to ACTUALLY DO this therapy but when they do they tell me at their follow up that they love it. I had one patient email me this, after me begging her for 6 months to do this, "Dr. Sparks, I did the towel things after my Epsom salt bath and today I woke up with way more energy. How often can I do it?"

This home hydrotherapy is VERY POWERFUL when used regularly. This treatment is the closest to the in office Constitutional Hydrotherapy Treatment.  Is great to do this once or twice per week or if you feel run down, like you are coming down with something or to help boost the immune system, detox, move lymph and increase vitality.

If you are dealing with mold, Lyme or any infections or environmental toxic burden then this is something you should be doing at least once per week.

Benefits can include increased elimination, vitality, lymph movement and immune function. 

Supplies:

·       One thin bath towel (or tank top, cami)

·       Bucket, bowl, sink or tub

·       Cold water

·       Thick blanket (wool is best)

How To:

1. Soak towel (shirt) in cold water in the tub, bucket, bowl or sink. (you can start with cool and work down to lower temps)

2. Take a hot bath/shower until you feel like you are warmed up from the inside out.  

3. Wring out towel very well.

4. Wrap it around your torso from armpits to hips

5. Bundle up with a blanket and relax

   1. A wool blanket is good for this as it keeps heat in while wet. Just make sure you are bundled well with no drafts. 

6. Relax, breath and concentrate on warming up the towel.

7. Warm up towel for 10-15 mins.

8.  Check to make sure you have warmed the skin under the towel before unwrapping.

9. If you haven’t been able to warm your towel, then you made the towel too cool to start. Dry off and bundle up and stay warm, have a cup of tea.  Next time make the towel a little warmer.

10. If you are warm then dry off and go to bed!

*This information is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional.

*You should not rely on this information as a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

*Always speak with your physician or other healthcare professional before taking any medication or nutritional, herbal or homeopathic supplement, or using any treatment for a health problem.

*Do not take these if you are pregnant or nursing without asking your doctor first.